We claim that what we seek, that what we're working for, is a better world. What does that even mean? Innovation. Passion. Research. Education. So far as I can tell, they are all good things, but what does this "better" world really look like? Where exactly are we going with all of this? When I think of MIT, I do think of technology, of the forefront of human knowledge, and our endeavors to push those borders ever farther forward. And yet, the question that we've failed to answer, the only one that I think is truly worth asking, is which way is forward? Where are we going with this? Everything that happens has its explicit intents and purposes, but it goes without saying that there are byproducts of every action. What are the byproducts of our actions? We talk about walking on the shoulders of giants, while stepping on the necks of children. What are we doing here?